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The
1900's saw the last great decade in club history with another nine
trophies being won:--- the League Championship 1900-01, 1902-03
and 1905-06, the Irish Cup 1902-03, 1904-05 and 1909-10, the CAS
1902-03 and 1904-05 and the City Cup 1904-05. Three trophies were
won in each of seasons 1902-03 and 1904-05 and my selected team
of the decade reflects this part of the era
1
DONALD SLOAN
was a 'large-handed' Scottish goalkeeper who was first choice in
1903-04 to 1905-06 when he was instrumental in helping the Whites
to win four trophies. He made 90 appearances in this spell, only
missing 3 games. He was transferred to Everton on 16-4-06 and then
to Liverpool for the 1908-09 season. He is the only Distillery player
to play for both clubs. He returned to the Whites in August 1909
as player-coach for a season, making 34 appearances and helping
to win the Irish Cup. Sadly he was killed in the trenches during
World War One on 1-1-17.
2
WILLIAM McCRACKEN is
probably the most famous Distillery player of all time, appearing
in the Daily Mail list of 100 greatest players of the century. He
made his Distillery debut on 29-12-1900 and played for four seasons
winning four medals. Following a friendly with Newcastle United
he joined them on 29-4-04 and the legend began. His defensive tactics
led to the off-side rule being changed and he played 15 times for
Ireland (6 while at Distillery).
3
GEORGE McMILLAN
joined Distillery from Linfield at the start of 1902-03 and was
the regular left-back for five seasons, helping to win 7 trophies.
Surprisingly he only won 2 Ireland caps.
4
SAM BURNISON
was the second of the three famous brothers to play for Distillery.
He made his debut at no.10 on 6-1-06 and scored in a 2-2 draw with
Glentoran. By 1907-08 he was the regular no.4 and he captained the
winning Irish Cup team of 1909-10 before being signed by Bradford
City. He won 5 of his 8 Ireland caps at Distillery.
5
ROBERT JOHNSTON was
a strong solid defender who first appeared at the end of the 1903-04
season. In the following season he helped the Whites win three trophies
before being signed by Southampton in December 1905. He returned
in April 1906 in time to help Distillery win the League. He made
one appearance for Ireland.
6
SAM FERGUSON from
Lurgan won three medals in 1904-05 at left-half after starting his
Distillery career as an inside-left. He also won a League medal
in 1906-07. He filled in at centre-forward for three games in 1907-08
and proved his versatility by scoring two goals.
7
ANDY HUNTER
became the regular no.7 at the start of 1904-05 when Johnny Mercer
went to Derby County. In his first three seasons he helped win
four trophies scoring 28 goals. He won 4 Ireland caps with
the Whites before joining Belfast Celtic in 1907-08. He returned
to the Whites from Sheffield Wednesday for a short spell in 1909-10.
8
WILLIAM 'TAR' HAMILTON
emerged at the end of 1901-02 and in his first full season, 1902-03,
he helped win 3 trophies, scoring goals in the Irish Cup and CAS
Finals. He moved to Glentoran in 1905-06 but returned to the Whites
in 1907-08 helping to win the Irish Cup in 1909-10. He was not a
prolific striker.
9
JIMMY SOYE was
a Scot from Rutherglen Glencairn who joined at the end of 1903-04.
The following season his 14 goals helped the Whites win three trophies
and he scored in the CAS Final. He was signed by Southampton, then
Newcastle and then back to Scotland to play for Aberdeen for 7 seasons.
He returned to the Whites ten years later.
10
ALFIE KEARNS
had joined Distillery from Belfast Celtic for the 1899-1900 season
and in five seasons had scored around 50 goals. He had ended the
previous decade by scoring two goals in the victorious Belfast Charities
Cup Final as well as getting a CAS winners medal. He then went on
to win 4 more medals scoring in the Irish Cup and CAS Finals of
1902-03. At the end of 1903-04 he was signed by Blackpool. He returned
to the Whites in 1906-07 and played for three seasons before a bad
tackle in a Linfield game on 19-12-08 ended his career in a most
horrific way. He was capped 6 times by Ireland.
11
DAVY McDOUGAL
was another Scot who made his Distillery debut on 31-5-02 and scored.
His 14 goals in 1902-03 were vital in the three trophy wins and
he helped win the League in his last season, 1904-05. He later played
with distinction for Glentoran and by the start of the next decade
was the manager of Cardiff.
Reserves:---
William
'Darky' Morton
was a centre-half from Chorley in the Lancashire League who was
a vital member of the 1902-03 trophy winning team.
Jack
Hunter was a half-back from Paisley who had played for St. Mirren,
Preston and Portsmouth --- he was a stallwart for 6 seasons from
1902-03 and became team trainer at the end of his career.
Jack
Magill had scored in two trophy finals in 1899-00 before joining
the Boer War --- he rejoined the Whites in 1902-03 for three seasons
and 5 more trophy wins, scoring two goals in the 1904-05 Irish Cup
Final before signing for Blackburn Rovers.
Walter
J. Johnston from Larne scored the winner in the 1909-10 Irish
Cup Final.
Joe
Burnison in 1902-03 was the first of the Burnison brothers to
captain Distillery in winning the Irish Cup.
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